802.11bc – the one that only talks, never listens
802.11bc is all about **broadcast**. no handshake, no ACK, no chatty back-and-forth. this amendment, finalized in 2023, was built to enable **One-to-Many Wi-Fi**, like digital TV over Wi-Fi, public service announcements, or AR/VR environments where tons of devices just need to **receive**, not reply.
it’s kind of the radio station of the 802.11 world – shout your message, and any compatible device can tune in. zero overhead. zero traffic back.
no flashy “Task Group bc” branding, but it was driven by use cases like public info systems, stadium broadcasts, and low-latency streaming to lots of users.
what did it bring to the table?
- Broadcast-only operation: no association or authentication required
- Works over any PHY: 802.11bc is a **MAC-layer** amendment, not a new PHY
- Service Identification: devices can scan for broadcast services using newly defined elements
- Flexible delivery: supports real-time streams (like video), periodic info (like signage), or bursty updates (like navigation)
- Security: it’s optional – by nature it’s open, but encryption can be layered in if needed
ideal for smart cities, stadiums, train stations, or anywhere a lot of people just need to **listen in** without clogging up the network with ACKs or retries.
802.11bc is officially part of **IEEE Std 802.11-2023** and will be an enabler for next-gen passive services, especially when paired with 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7).
802.11bc is like a Wi-Fi megaphone. your devices don't have to talk back – just open their ears and catch the stream.